Chapter 21
Sophie
Sharing my concerns about custody with Linc, about my plans to change, was huge for me. Lou was my everything. It was silly, but part of me was so afraid to mention losing custody out loud, as if just saying it would make it come true. But I was working on taking control back, moving forward.
Once Lou went back to school, and we were back on a normal course, I made an appointment to meet with my lawyer. Brian wasn’t just my lawyer; he had become a close advisor and friend over the past few years.
“Are you sure you’re ready to do this? Once we get the ball rolling, there’s no taking it back,” he said kindly, knowing how much I had waffled over moving forward in the past.
“Yes, I’m sure. I can’t let my fear hold me back. It’s only hurting Lou,” I told him, tears filling my eyes as guilt poured through me.
“Then let’s bring them down. It’s not going to be a quick or easy process, my dear, but I will be by your side the entire time. You’ve done a magnificent job of preparing. All we have to do is share everything we’ve found and let them hang themselves,” he told me.
Brian had laid out how long it all would take and the variety of outcomes we could expect, depending on how they planned to respond. Nothing was guaranteed, but wasn’t that better than doing nothing?
The silence of the car ride home wasn’t doing much to soothe my circling thoughts.
So, when I made it back to town too early to pick Lou up from school, I decided to treat myself to an afternoon snack.
Parking at my favorite cafe and bakery, my stomach grumbled, reminding me that I’d had nothing to eat.
As soon as I entered the warm space, my stomach growled, and I found my gaze drifting to the bakery display.
Before I could order, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around to find a woman around my age with long bleached-blonde hair.
She was pretty, tall, and thin, with a bright smile.
“Sorry, did you need something?” I asked, assuming she’d asked me a question, and I hadn’t been paying attention.
“Oh, I just—are you Sophie? Townsend?” she asked, and I stiffened.
“What… Who is asking?” I hesitated, and the woman giggled, the sound hollow, grating.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Lindsey. It’s so nice to meet you.” Before I could reply, she was wrapping me in a hug, her perfume invading my senses as her long nails dug into my back.
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you too,” I said. Lindsey? Linc’s ex?
“Didn’t Linc tell you I was coming? I spoke to him on the phone and told him I was moving back.
Oh, you should come over for dinner! I can cook Linc’s favorite.
He still likes that spicy chili, right?” The familiarity, the ease with which she said all of that, took me by surprise.
Linc had made it seem like they hadn’t spoken in years.
“I can bring it by the house! Can’t believe he bought that place up on Birchfield. It was a mess when we were kids. Used to sneak in there for high school parties, you know.”
“Next,” The barista called, and I managed to paste a fake smile on my face.
“Sounds good. Nice to meet you.” I ordered a black coffee, not wanting to wait for them to make anything, then quickly left the shop.
Sitting frozen in my car, I didn’t know what to say or do.
My stomach ached, both from hunger and anxiety.
Did I do it again? Doubt creeped in, clouding my thoughts and memories.
Have I misjudged Linc? Have I been blinded again?
As I sat in the car, I went over the interaction again and again in my head.
The forced smile, the way her eyes were searching my face for a reaction.
It felt forced, not natural. Driving away, I picked Lou up and lost myself in her happy chattering from the back seat.
Linc was waiting at the door when we pulled in, his handsome face looking concerned and excited as he watched Lou try to get out of the car with her backpack and without damaging her cast. Once inside, I turned to Lou.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and pick a new book to start reading tonight? We can start your homework after,” I told her. Ecstatic at the idea of not having to dive into her spelling and math sheets right away, she ran upstairs.
Linc was already going through Lou’s lunch box, emptying the containers and preparing them for the dishwasher.
I studied him, the way he held Lou’s unicorn thermos in his giant palm, rinsing it delicately because it was her favorite.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I sat down at the table.
Rolling the bottle between my palms, I finally spoke up.
“So I had an interesting run-in today.” Linc turned around, one eyebrow arched.
“Friend, family, or foe?” he asked, and I snorted. I did happen to have all three of those.
“Not sure yet. A bit of both, perhaps,” I replied, which had him turning around to study me. Concern marred his face, his brow furrowed.
“Was it something to do with Max?”
“Actually, it was something to do with you. I met Lindsey. She moved back to town.” I watched as several emotions flitted across his face. Confusion, understanding, then something that was a mix between realization and fury.
“Motherfucker! What did she say to you?” he asked, coming to sit at the table.
“Just that she was back, and had spoken to you on the phone about it. She knew you live here now, and offered to bring your favorite chili over.” I was proud to keep the wobble out of my voice, that I was able to get it all out before melting down.
He reached for my hands, his large ones encasing mine completely.
“I’m so sorry, Sunshine. She shouldn’t have gotten anywhere near you. I don’t know where she got all that information, but the only true thing she said was that we spoke on the phone.” I gasped and tried to pull my hands away, but he stayed firm.
“It was for less than a minute. She called from a number I didn’t recognize.
As soon as I realized it was her, I told her I wasn’t interested in seeing or hearing from her.
The only reason I didn’t tell you was because I forgot.
She called me right before Lou’s accident.
With everything that happened after, it just slipped my mind.
Not because I wanted to hide it, but because it meant so little to me.
My focus was on you and Lou, making sure my girls were okay.
” I looked into his eyes, which were unwavering, begging me to believe him.
Every part of his body was taut, lined with anger and stress.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Okay?” he asked, looking confused.
“I believe you,” I told him, because I had no reason not to. He was out of his chair and moving toward me in an instant. Crouching before my chair, he pulled me into his arms, surrounding me completely.
“I would never cheat on you. Can’t imagine looking at another woman.
You’re all I think about when we’re together and when we’re apart.
I’m so sorry that something from my past touched you, and I will figure out what she’s up to.
Whatever you need from me, so you feel comfortable knowing nothing is happening, I’m happy to give,” he whispered into my hair, a slight tremor in his hands.
“I love you, Linc. And I trust you. I don’t need to see anything. You don’t have to show me receipts. That being said, I don’t know if I trust Lindsey. If she contacts you again, I need to know so I’m not blindsided.”
“Of course. I won’t fuck up again. I promise,” he swore, the anger at himself written all over his face.
I cupped his cheek and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, enjoying the feeling of comfort and safety that he surrounded me with.
I shared a bit more of my concerns—ones I was hesitant to say out loud.
“Something about this feels wrong, and I can’t figure out exactly what it is.
She wasn’t threatening or anything. The whole meeting was just weird.
Am I being paranoid? Maybe all of this drama with Max and Natalia has me seeing things that aren’t there,” I muttered, my mind going to the repressed concerns I’d had since my divorce.
That my perception was permanently skewed, that I couldn’t trust my instincts.
“Sophie, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, and I will let you know if I so much as smell her.
We’re a team. We make decisions together.
Thank you for coming to me, for believing in us enough to talk to me about this.
Anything that comes up, anything you’re worried about or afraid of, please tell me.
I want to know. I need to know so I can be the best man possible to support you.
To make sure you don’t have any reason to doubt us, to doubt my love for you. ”
Lincoln
As soon as Sophie went upstairs to help Lou with her homework, I called Mason.
“Detective Carson,” he answered, all business.
“Need you to look into Lindsey. All of a sudden, she moved back to town, and her first play was cornering Sophie. I don’t like it.”
“Damn. Nothing’s easy with you, is it bro?” Mason jested, but I knew he was the best person to handle it.
“I want to know everything. Finances, cell phone records. All of it. I need to know the real reason she’s here. She swore she would never come back,” I told him, trying to keep my voice low so I didn’t give in to the anger radiating under my skin.
“Alright, I’ll get my guy on it. He’s a PI. Former police, knows how to work the gray area. Will call you as soon as I have anything. Want me to drive by and check on the house when I’m off my shift?” he asked, and I paused.
“Not yet, but I might take you up on that if Lindsey tries to approach either of my girls again,” I told him.
“Your girls? Goddamnit. Quinn is gonna win the bet.” He cursed, and I frowned.
“What bet?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know what my siblings were getting into.
“How long it would take you to admit you were in love with Sophie. Quinn said you’d get your head out of your ass soon. I thought you might be stuck a bit longer.”